a P

e hadn'

into my work, scrubbing the stainless steel steam wand of

scrub

Hayes's smug face. Close my sh

the door jingle. I only registered someone was there when

voice spoke m

led, my hand freez

f a simple flannel shirt. He had dark, thick hair, a clean-shaven jaw, and eyes so deep and brown they see

you?" I asked, wipin

me in the pack's designated high school. He was quiet back then, always in the background. A nobody, really. Just another

as nice to see a friendly, or at least neutral, face. "Wow.

oice a low rumble that was surprisingly pleasant. "Saw the s

s eyes held a friendly lig

" I said, my professional persona k

r-over? Whatever

g righ

ine a familiar comfort. The rich, nutty aroma of the coffee filled th

s posture relaxed. "I think I saw you earlier," he said casually

ing up again. I stopped what I was doing and lean

fless comment. I told this man who was almost a stranger to me, this ghost from my past, everything. He was just so easy to talk

ker of something cold and hard passed through his eyes. It w

e cheated on me six months ago. Told me I was lucky he'd even dated a wolfless human in the first place.

h into a fist. The knuckles went white. Again, the reaction was so swift, so quickly control

and gently took a paper napkin from the dispenser, dabbing at a drop of water that had splashed onto the back of my h

ected jolt, like static electricity, shot up my ar

eating a little faster. I finished the pour-over, the hot water blooming

ead. "It's my mother. She's the one setting up these

cket of my apron, began to vibrate violent

e screen glowed wit

the ignore button and shoved the phone back int

Derrick a

will probably want me to be a domestic slave." I let out a humorless laugh. "God, sometimes I wish I could jus

im, his eyes thoughtful. He didn't say anything, but a corner of his mouth ti

rating again, more i

apron in frustration. "I have to take

rry." He took his mug and walked over to a small table in the cor

d toward the back of the shop, my phone

ath, I swiped to answer, br

at have y

ll, cluttered employee break room, the scent of cof

-